Chinese-Australian journalist Cheng Lei was held by the Chinese Communist regime in solitary confinement, and the Australian government’s repeated requests for her release were all rejected. It was not until three years later that Cheng Lei finally returned to Australia. (Photo illustration by People News)
[People News] Reporters Without Borders (RSF) released its 2025 annual report on December 9, stating that China is the world’s largest prison for journalists and detains the greatest number of media workers. As of December 1, the Chinese Communist regime under Xi Jinping had detained 113 media workers, with Hong Kong detaining an additional 8, bringing the total to 121. This number exceeds the combined total of Russia (48) and Myanmar (47), which rank second and third in the number of detained journalists.
As of December 1, the 503 journalists detained worldwide were spread across 47 countries. The report noted that, as of December 1, Russia had the largest number of detained foreign journalists (26), followed by Israel (20).
The organization listed Hong Kong media workers currently imprisoned, including Next Digital founder Jimmy Lai, former Next Digital Chief Executive Officer Cheung Kim-hung, former Apple Daily deputy publisher Chan Pui-man, former editor-in-chief Law Wai-kwong, former executive editor-in-chief Lam Man-chung, former English edition executive editor-in-chief Fung Wai-kong, former lead writer Yeung Ching-kee, and former Stand News reporter Ho Kwai-lam.
The organization again called on democratic nations on December 4, ahead of Jimmy Lai’s 78th birthday, to ensure that he is released before dying in prison.
Because the report only covers data up to December 1, it does not include current affairs commentator Wong On-yin, who was arrested by the Hong Kong Police National Security Department on December 6 for “obstructing investigation endangering national security” and “publishing seditious publications.” He was denied bail by designated National Security Law judge Victor So, and the case has been adjourned to January 20 next year.
In the China section of the report, Reporters Without Borders specifically highlighted journalists persecuted by the Chinese Communist regime, including Li Yen-ho (pen name Fu Cha), a host at Radio Taiwan International and founder and editor-in-chief of Eight Banners Culture in Taiwan. On February 17 this year, he was sentenced by a Shanghai court to three years in prison and deprived of political rights for one year, including the loss of voting rights and freedom of expression.
Several months after Li’s sentencing, journalist Zhang Zhan—who had been detained since August 28 last year—was sentenced to four years in prison on September 19 this year, marking her second imprisonment. She was previously detained in 2020 for reporting on the situation in Wuhan during the early days of the COVID-19 outbreak.
Hong Kong Falls Back to 140th, Rated “Very Bad”
Earlier this year, in the 2025 World Press Freedom Index published by Reporters Without Borders, Hong Kong ranked 140th out of 180 countries and regions with a score of 39.86, which is five places lower than last year. This returns Hong Kong to its 2023 ranking, although its score is five points lower than in 2023, which was 44.86.
Among the five rating categories, Hong Kong was listed for the first time in the worst category, “very bad,” the same category as mainland China, which ranks 178th.
Reporters Without Borders stated that after Beijing forcibly imposed the Hong Kong National Security Law in 2020, suppressing independent voices, Hong Kong’s press freedom suffered an unprecedented decline. Since 2021, the Hong Kong government has arrested more than ten journalists under national security–related charges. The enactment of the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance in 2024 further expanded the legal threats facing journalists. The Hong Kong Journalists Association stated last year that dozens of journalists had been subjected to organized harassment.△
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